Berry Season

Yes, it is finally spring. Even if your weather is not as spring-like as you may like, there are other signs. Spring foods are showing up in the markets. Asparagus is one indicator. But think strawberries if you are feeding children. Even some of our youngest eaters, perhaps at age 9-10 months, can eat bits of fresh strawberries. After strawberry season look for raspberries in June, blueberries in July, and blackberries in August.

Serve the berries as soon as possible after purchasing, fresh is best. Even better, pick your own berries. Look for “U-Pick” farms in your area. The native wild strawberries (small and irregular in shape) are the sweetest. You can easily find blueberries and blackberries growing wild. Blueberries are easy for young children to pick as many are low to the ground. Blackberries may be difficult as the plants are covered with prickers. One way to allow small children to pick these with more ease is to take a shears and cut off a large branch from the blackberry bush. Lay the branch on the ground and let the kids pick, or eat, blackberries from this branch. Let your child really taste the natural sweetness of the fruit. Why alter a berry by covering it in sauce, cream, or baking with loads of sugar? If you find you have picked too many berries to eat within the next several days, they freeze well. Lay the berries in a single layer on a cookie sheet. When they are frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer bag.

There are also some great children’s books about berries. My two favorite are “Jam Berry” and “The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear”. Both books have beautiful pictures of ripe berries. “Jam Berry” will be enjoyed by even the youngest baby as it has a wonderfully entrancing rhythm and rhyme. “ The Big Hungry Bear” has a delightful, yet suspenseful story that can be enjoyed by the reader as well as young children.